Engineers have found a gas leak at a tower block where a surveyor described the danger of fire as “off the Richter Scale”.

Inspectors discovered the leak at Cornish House, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, yesterday after a BBC report revealed none of the borough’s 37 tower blocks have a valid fire risk assessment in place, and 21 are rated as high risk.

National Grid engineers isolated the supply and reassured residents that they have removed any risk of harm.

The incident comes after a surveyor told the BBC that hazards at Cornish House included no fire resistance between flats and lifts, a padlock on one emergency escape and no release bar on another.

The emergency lighting by the escape had also been removed, and the fireman's entry switch was broken, preventing them access to the block.

Councillor Jon Hardy, lead member for housing at Hounslow Council, said: “During a routine inspection a small gas leak was discovered at Cornish House yesterday. As a precaution engineers from the National Grid have isolated the supply.

“Residents were visited by both the National Grid and Hounslow Homes staff to reassure them and explain that isolating the supply has removed any risk. National Grid is providing temporary cooking appliances for residents who need them.

“Letters explaining the position are being left for all those not at home.”

Hounslow Homes said it had carried out regular checks, but these were no longer considered adequate following a blaze that killed six people at Lakanal House, Camberwell, in July.

Bernadette O'Shea, chief executive of Hounslow Homes, said yesterday that its own inspectors had found their was “no need for alarm” following the BBC report on Tuesday.

She said: "We would like to reassure our residents that we are doing all we can to minimise the risk of a similar incident [to the Lakanal House fire] happening."

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